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Trade unions

A trade union is an association of workers in a particular industry or sector, designed to protect the rights, interests and working conditions of employees. Large trade unions in the UK include the TUC, Unite, Unison, the GMB and Usdaw.

Trade unions can receive recognition, or employers can derecognise trade unions. Employment laws protecting employees taking industrial action, such as taking part in strikes or picketing, are contained in the Employment Rights Act 1996 and Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.


    • Employee relations
    • Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
    • Latest News

    TUC urges Mandelson to focus on protecting jobs

    by Greg Pitcher 6 Oct 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 6 Oct 2008

    TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has called on controversial new business secretary Peter Mandelson to focus on protecting jobs.Mandelson, who...

    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Unions welcome plan for councils to raise cash for equal pay settlements

    by Guy Logan 29 Sep 2008
    by Guy Logan 29 Sep 2008

    Unions have welcomed a government announcement that will allow councils to raise almost half a billion pounds to fund equal...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • HR strategy

    Union urges Lloyds TSB to transfer offshored services to HBOS takeover staff

    by Guy Logan 23 Sep 2008
    by Guy Logan 23 Sep 2008

    The trade union representing Lloyds TSB employees has demanded that the bank terminate its offshoring agreements in India following the...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    Unions meet minister to salvage Lloyds TSB and HBOS jobs

    by Greg Pitcher 22 Sep 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 22 Sep 2008

    Trade union leaders are set to meet Scotland’s first minister Alex Salmond today (Monday) in a bid to salvage thousands...

    • Acas
    • Employee relations
    • Latest News

    Council pay dispute goes to Acas

    by Greg Pitcher 22 Sep 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 22 Sep 2008

    The council pay dispute that has seen hundreds of thousands of local authority workers strike this summer will go to...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • HR practice

    London 2012: union fears pressure to work for free

    by Greg Pitcher 15 Sep 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 15 Sep 2008

    Skilled professionals were asked to work for free on the London-organised Olympic handover ceremony in Beijing, according to angry trade...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Industrial action / strikes

    Unite union leader warns employers to prepare for war over pay

    by Greg Pitcher 15 Sep 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 15 Sep 2008

    EXCLUSIVEUnite general secretary Derek Simpson has told HR professionals across the UK to prepare for war with trade unions.Simpson â€“ who...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Information & consultation

    Unison tells members not to use fingerprint clocking-in system

    by Guy Logan 12 Sep 2008
    by Guy Logan 12 Sep 2008

    A union has told employees of Westminster City Council to refuse to use biometric fingerprint devices for clocking on and...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Education - school

    Schools should teach employment rights, says union

    by Mike Berry 11 Sep 2008
    by Mike Berry 11 Sep 2008

    A leading union has called for schools to teach pupils about the right to strike and the role of trade...

    • Asylum seekers
    • Employee relations
    • Employment law

    Non-EU immigrants jobs list is unhelpful, warns TUC

    by Louisa Peacock 10 Sep 2008
    by Louisa Peacock 10 Sep 2008

    The occupational shortlist of skilled jobs published yesterday to cut the number of migrant workers is “unhelpful” for some sectors...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    Chancellor takes firm line on wages at TUC conference

    by Greg Pitcher 10 Sep 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 10 Sep 2008

    Chancellor Alistair Darling last night predicted a doomsday scenario of soaring inflation and mass redundancies if employers bow to growing...

    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    TUC Congress: Brendan Barber calls for end to employment injustice

    by Greg Pitcher 8 Sep 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 8 Sep 2008

    TUC general secretary Brendan Barber this morning used his speech at the start of the body’s 2008 congress to call...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    Friday podcast: Weight Watchers at work, and a TUC name change?

    by Personnel Today 8 Sep 2008
    by Personnel Today 8 Sep 2008

    Our weekly HR news and analysis audio programme includes:HR news and analysis including:

    a new health programme by Weight Watchers is...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    TUC name change idea rejected by trade union experts

    by Helen Gilbert 5 Sep 2008
    by Helen Gilbert 5 Sep 2008

    Trade union experts have rubbished claims that the TUC name is old fashioned and, as such, limiting its appeal to...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Industrial action / strikes

    Wages freeze by Royal Mail unlawful for CWU’s work-to-contract campaign

    by Guy Logan 5 Sep 2008
    by Guy Logan 5 Sep 2008

    Royal Mail has been forced to pay dozens of postal workers who had their pay stopped “without good reason” last...

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